Google issues urgent security warning to 3,500,000,000 users following ‘high-severity vulnerability’

Google has discovered a vulnerability in Chrome that could leave billions of people exposed to cyberattacks.

This warning comes just weeks after Google's Chrome had to rush out another emergency update to fix eight different security problems, plus an extra patch for yet another serious vulnerability.

All these updates happening so close together shows just how many security issues the world's most popular browser keeps running into.

Chrome users have been warned of a ‘high-severity vulnerability’. (Bloomberg/Contributor/Getty)

What is the security vulnerability?

Google Chrome users have been warned just weeks after a ‘high-severity vulnerability’ was detected in the browser. The tech giant has not revealed specific details about the latest vulnerability or exactly how it plans to fix it, following standard security practices that aim to protect users while patches are being distributed.

"Access to bug details and links may be kept restricted until a majority of users are updated with a fix," the company stated. "We will also retain restrictions if the bug exists in a third-party library that other projects similarly depend on, but haven’t yet fixed."

The company confirmed that the vulnerability could potentially be exploited by remote hackers to launch attacks against users, making the update critical for maintaining browser security.

How to protect yourself

The tech giant is rolling out a critical security update to approximately 3.5 billion Chrome users over the coming days and weeks to address what it describes as a 'high-severity vulnerability.'

How do I update my Google Chrome?

Chrome users need to manually update their browsers to ensure they're protected against potential attacks.

Here's how to do it:

• Open Chrome and click on the three dots menu in the top-right corner
• Go to Help, then select "About Google Chrome"
• The browser will automatically check for and download any available updates
• Once the update completes, restart Chrome to activate the latest security protections

Chrome users need to manually update their browsers to ensure they're protected. (Anadolu/Contributor/Getty)

Once the update is complete, the Chrome Stable channel will update to version 139.0.7258.127/.128 for Windows and Mac users, and 139.0.7258.127 for Linux systems.

Security experts consistently emphasise the importance of installing browser updates promptly, as cybercriminals often move quickly to exploit known vulnerabilities before users can protect themselves.

According to StatCounter Global Stats, Chrome commands approximately 67.9% of the online browser market share, while Apple's Safari has 16.2% and Microsoft's Edge has 5% in comparison.

Last month, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) described Google as a 'key gateway to the internet' and suggested the company may need to loosen its grip on the search and advertising markets.

The authority also said that it is considering giving Google 'strategic market status' after investigating whether the company has too much control over internet access. If designated with this status, Google would be required to follow specific rules around competition with other search engines and advertising providers.